Two Wheels. Multiple Hubs. Our European Bike Tour
A type of mobility that also represents a sense of community: that’s what we want to show with our events at the Young Mobility Network. Last month, we put ourselves out there, riding our bikes around Europe. Six stops, from Berlin to Brussels, meeting all our YMN Hubs. We care about mobility being easy and accessible and this time we have added a little bit of fun!
Follow us on our journey, discovering what it really takes to organize bike tours, who the key players involved are and what we bring home from those experiences.
Berlin, where the fun started
Our journey started with a bit of theory, discovering what a Cycling City is. Ingwar Perowanowitsch’s documentary was an adventure through the most cycling-friendly cities in the world. What were the main factors that led Freiburg, Copenhagen or Amsterdam to become people-centered and real cycling cities? This question led to a very interesting discussion on the concept of making and, most importantly, accepting changes. Transforming cities requires a collective effort and the courage to see the collective advantages. More livable cities are not just a dream. With the right tools we can achieve that.
Frankfurt, behind the scenes of bike sharing
We got the theory, now we need the tool. We visited one of the Call a Bike workshops, in Frankfurt. A digital renting service that covers a big part of Germany, allowing people to bike around the cities using a simple app. But it’s not as easy as it seems. Maintenance, cleaning, repairs: it all needs to be done by experts like Mario, who we had the pleasure to meet at the Frankfurt workshop. Have you ever noticed how bikes are always in the right places and sometimes appear someplace overnight? It is Mario and his team, who relocate them in the right place and at the right time with their specialized vans.
Bike and chill in Bremen
Another German city to go ahead with the tour. A ride to reach other networking events and so much more. We had the most pleasant afternoon with a yoga session, a visit to an art flea market and, of course, plenty of time to connect and chat. During our tour we had the pleasure to meet our friends from ADFC: the world's largest cycling advocacy group, representing over 240,000 members in Germany. Advocating for safer bike lanes for safer slow mobility is also what we believe in.
Our Hamburg bike tour: between Green Oases and Industry
On our relaxed bike tour, we explored Wilhelmsburg, discovering its unique mix of green spaces and industrial charm. Starting at the Old Elbe Tunnel, we set off together to experience a different side of Hamburg. Although the group was a little smaller than expected, the atmosphere was all the better for it! We rounded off a lovely evening with our regulars’ meetup at Astra Brauhaus, enjoying good food, cold drinks, and great conversations.
Brussels: rain or shine, we ride
We know how unpredictable the Belgian weather is. The rain decided to join us, but that did not stop us from doing our bike tour. We got on our bikes, adjusted the schedule a little, and set off to explore the city on two wheels.
Iconic bikes and fulfilling chats: the London tour
Who says that bikes can only have one shape? Brompton’s iconic folding bikes will show you otherwise. We had so much fun riding around Hyde Park with the beautiful people of the YMN community. New connections, networking and passion to innovate the future of mobility. A big thanks to Minimal who helped us move our bikes across London. Talking about mobility while experiencing it is the most fun and fulfilling way to do it!
Six cities, same passion for green mobility and real connections with people.
Do you picture yourself participating in one of the next bike tours? Whether you live in Hamburg or Brussels or in any of our Hubs, stay in touch with us to stay updated on our future events! The bigger our community, the stronger the connections. Creating the future of mobility, one meeting at a time.